Yesterday I went skating for the first time since March. I was nervous and excited with a side order of Oh My God What If I Suck.
Not only did I not completely suck, I could get down lower–I know this because of my innate athletic ability. Or because Hockey Skating Husband was all “you’re getting down lower.” Either/or. And then he said I actually sort of look like I know what I’m doing instead of just flailing about like that woman over there and then pointed to a woman slowly making her way around the ice by taking teeny tiny steps.
Then when I was skating the straight part of the ice trying to do the ‘C’ motion in my strides, I was sliding out on the flats of my blades. Which sounds awful but I can’t describe to you exactly what my feet are supposed to be doing except to say that my feet never did it. But the sliding out is good because it means I’m no longer on my inside edge when I’m supposed to be on my outside edge, instead I’m on the flat of my blade which means I’m that much closer to getting on my outside edges.
You’ll totally understand that if you speed skate. If not, just imagine me getting closer to doing something properly instead of being my usual gong show on ice.
It also means I still have a long way to go but today I shall go against my typical “do better” mentality and be positive and happy.
I know, it’s weird.
In other news Hockey Skating Husband played hockey for the first time since this happened in December. Last night he told me he’s going to join me in dryland training.
This could get ugly.
Not actually my husband or my foot
p.s. I wonder what it’s like to be a natural athlete and not have to fight for every single small gain I make?
p.p.s. You have no idea how much I now regret not wearing the stupid orthotic shoes my parents bought me when I was six to help my pigeon-toed-ness. But I was six. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW?
p.p.p.s. This weekend I had to remind my boys about the dangers of riding bikes with scissors. And yet in our house, totally normal.
Help me out… So in the straights, you are trying to get on to the outside edge of your blades? I figured that was more relevant in the turn, so you are leaning into the turn, on the outside edge of your left foot and the inside edge of your right. No? Sounds like it would make sense to me but then again, I doubt I could even wear speed skates the right way forward!
Speed skating is all about edges. If I’m pushing out with my inside edge on my left foot, that means I need to be on my outer edge on my right foot. Pushing out with inside edge on right foot, left foot needs to be on outer edge. It’s like this the whole way around whether on the corners or straights.
Thanks Sharon. With long-track skaters, I can visualize this outside-inside play happening, especially when the camera angle shows them coming toward you on the straight. To my untrained eye, it doesn’t look the same on short-track skaters…but now I know and I kinda understand.
Cheers
I don’t understand 90% of what you wrote here but I’m 100% certain congratulations are in order. YAY YOU!!!
Ps: wonder if there’s a poster child for wearing orthotics in your youth ? It could be you and your feet could be famous
I SHOULD be the poster child. It would be all “Wear these shoes NO MATTER HOW UGLY THEY ARE because you will regret it when you’re older”
How about riding bikes with sticks as spears? Is that safe?
Very cool that you push yourself to find that outside edge, which is a precarious place to be for anybody.
Totally safe. I’m pretty sure I did that as a kid.
Yay for skating on the flat. I think the true athletes work there asses off regardless of natural talent. You are totally an athlete in my book. Kick your hubby’s butt in training.
I don’t think it’s as much as a gong show getting to the right point though